Procurement Leader - Commercial Procurement Account Mgmt: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals

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AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. But we're more than one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies. At AstraZeneca, we're proud to have a unique workplace culture that inspires innovation and collaboration. Here, employees are empowered to express diverse perspectives - and are made to feel valued, energized and rewarded for their ideas and creativity. We have received many honors, including:

• Fortune World's Most Admired Companies list (2009)
• Woman Engineer Magazine's 18th Annual "Top 50 Employers" (2008)
• The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers (2007-2008)
• CEO Cancer Gold Standard Reaccreditation, CEO Roundtable on Cancer (2008 & 2009)
• 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers by Working Mother Magazine (2002 - 2008)
• 100 Best Companies to Work For in America by Fortune Magazine* (2008) *Only large pharmaceutical company included on the list
• Diversity MBA Magazine Top 50 Companies in Diversity Leadership (2008)
• Men's Fitness Top 15 Fittest Companies in America (2008)
• The Scientist Best Places to Work in Industry (2008)
• Fit-Friendly Company Award, American Heart Association (2007)
• Top Employer, Science Magazine (2002 - 2007)

Procurement Leader - Commercial Procurement Account Mgmt

Job Summary

Responsibilities

This is a key role, typically working in a complex, high spend environment, involving the implementation of strategic procurement activities. The 3 key areas of focus for this role are:

1. Work with key customers and the category leaders to ensure successful implementation of strategic sourcing decisions.
2. Within area of spend, takes full accountability for successful implementation of contracts and ongoing contract and relationship management.
3. Directs all relationship management activities for all US Commercial and Global Marketing (GM)-related materials and services such that maximum value is gained for internal stakeholders, leading to competitive advantage for AstraZeneca.

The role holder is accountable for the line and performance management of a team of professionals. Role Holder is accountable for development and execution of global and local strategies.

Major Responsibilities
· Procurement:
- Provides business single point of contact and enables support of demand management for key customers.
- Participates in tactical and operational brand and GM planning activities, has knowledge/understanding of brand strategic initiatives, and provides for Procurement insight to business activities.
- Assists and leads Commercial Procurement Account Management team in preparing the opportunity and spend analysis with brands and across US Commercial and GM, provides forecasted data for future organization buying requirements, and ensures best practice across customer areas.
- Accountable for sourcing activities for all areas of spend within US/GM SET which is typically high dollar value, complex in nature, may be multi-geographic and/or cross SET.
- Responsible for the implementation of category strategies and delivery of cost savings targets, value generation and key performance metrics.

- Manages team to conduct commercial review of Statements of Work in accordance with business requirements and budgets, including:
- Cost benefit analysis on planned acquisitions.
- Specifications, performance terms, and/or acceptance criteria.
- Contracts

Leads team to locate and select potential sources of materials and/or services.
- Leads team in the preparation of and to solicit competitive bids, quotations and proposals with pertinent specifications, terms and conditions.
- Leads the evaluation of competitive offerings to determine the overall best offer for a product or service. Develops bid evaluation approach in support of supplier selection process
- Develop contracts and agreements for the supply of both standard and complex products and services with new and existing suppliers.
- Review and assist in revising procurement practices to ensure their conformance with established laws.
- Maintain appropriate level of administration around contracts and suppliers, e.g. contract database, equipment records and/or specifications.
- Leverage and adapt as appropriate AZ Procurement processes and techniques
- Maintain a cost reduction, cost avoidance, cost containment program and reports it via the value database.
- Coordinate internal and external resources, often in cross-functional teams, to achieve strategic objectives.
- Oversee the introduction of new and modified products and services with appropriate departments.
- Advise on the development of the appropriate sourcing approach with Sourcing Leader and Category Management team(s) to meet customer requirements.
- Use appropriate methods and resources to develop and maintain market awareness, including current and future market conditions.
- Analyse and resolve issues raised in Procurement audit reports
- Manage risks, internal and external, and protect AZ's intellectual property through the use of available AZ templates, processes and sourcing tools
- Lead and drive sourcing projects across relevant business area.
- Conduct appropriate financial evaluation of suppliers as part of the RFP / sourcing process
- Utilize relevant AZ procurement systems e.g. EzSource, EzBuy, EzView
- Comply with all regulatory and AZ requirements relevant to the role, e.g. Sarbanes Oxley, Code of Conduct, Financial Control Framework

Relationship Management:
Customer Relationship Management
- Work with customer leadership teams to agree how Procurement can contribute to business objectives and influence objective setting and demand patterns to allow the Category Management to deliver best value by leveraging our total expenditure through appropriate purchasing strategies.
- Acts as procurement point person for senior leaders within US Commercial and GM business and is key stakeholder manager for Brand, Commercial and GM Leadership.
- Acts as Account Manager for AZENITY brand.
- Ensures integration of best practice across customers

Work closely with key customers to:
- Understand customer priorities
- Agree sourcing plans and set expectations for effective value delivery
- Help the customer understand and engage with AZ procurement requirements

- Oversee the satisfaction of AZ's internal Commercial customers with the services provided by the Procurement organization.
- Establish close relationship with Finance leaders and support within US Commercial and GM business, and work in conjunction with Account Management and brand teams to understand budgets and potential procurement impact and benefits.

Supplier Relationship Management (SRM):
Develops internal and external relationships with suppliers and cross-functional teams with regard to the following:
- Works with Category Leaders to establish preferred supplier lists base on business requirements, and establish and manage effective relationships with suppliers according to SRM process.
- Drive supplier performance through the application of appropriate supplier management measures and methods.
- Develop negotiation strategies and leads negotiations to conclusion
- Resolve quality problems with suppliers and user departments and develops measurements for improvement and target setting.
- May participate in interviews with current and prospective supplier sales personnel in support of customer requirements.
- Coordinate changes to the organization's procurement, supply management and material usage policies within area of spend.
- Disseminate information and provide training related to procurement policies and procedures.
- May act as a point of escalation for the review and response to supplier inquiries, protests and appeals.

People Management:
· Lead a Procurement team, establishing and communicating strategic direction, providing business context, coaching and direction to enable the team to meet its performance targets
· Ensure that direct reports leverage and operate in line with AZ Procurement tools, processes and policies
· Responsible for employee development, performance management and career guidance
· Champion SHE
· Provide integration regarding host management for resources that may sit outside of the US.
· Promote compliance with AZ's code of conduct, ensuring by personal example and coaching that AZ staff understand and practice ethical business behavior and use reasonable care to monitor suppliers and contractors working for AZ to ensure that they work in a manner consistent with the code.

Qualifications

· College degree required
· Minimum 10 years' work experience
· At least 5 years' experience of people management, including managing teams of senior professionals and managers and establishing performance expectations
· At least 5 years' customer facing or selling experience
· Exceptional skills in strategic influencing, collaboration, communications, and conflict management
· Project background in most, if not all, key categories of commercial spend, such as Agency, Media, Market Research, Medical Education, Conferences, Print, Premiums and Direct Marketing.
· Strong analytical skills, business acumen, drive for results and customer focus
· Energetic and self motivated
· Strong written and verbal communication skills
· Oral and written fluency in Business English Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Power Point and Excel
· Proved ability to manage multiple projects/tasks effectively, with proven prioritization skills
· Proven experience of change management
· Demonstrated success working in a team environment

Preferred Background:
· Advanced degree preferred in Science, Marketing or business related discipline
· Experience leading and participating on cross-functional and/or global teams
· Exposure to AZ Commercial functions and responsibilities.
· 3 years direct experience in purchasing, project and program management
o Procurement process knowledge, agreement management, financial analysis, market analysis, supplier analysis, supplier diversity, supplier management, technology utilization, strategic planning and integrated supply chain experience
o Proficiency in Procurement and other business related systems, e.g. ERP, Ariba
· Financial Analysis
- Dun & Bradstreet reports
- Credit Scoring

We want you to build a balanced life at AstraZeneca. Your career is just one part of that. We offer competitive salaries, rewards and recognitions for your invaluable time and efforts. We also bring you all the things you need to for your life outside of your work:

• generous health and welfare benefits
• flexible scheduling
• child care programs
• learning and development opportunities
• fitness centers
• and other personal conveniences

At AstraZeneca, we put people first. Whether it's the patients we help or the employees who make everything we do possible.

AstraZeneca is an equal opportunity employer.